Signal device



Dec, zo, 1927.

E. WATTS SIGNAL DEVICE Filed March 14, 1927 zzz/fzzfor when? A fari 1152734 E( WMSVM/arflg K Patented Dec. 20, 1927.`

e. EARL WATTS, or WASHINGTON, IOWA.

`sierva-L. Imvrciav Application inea Marca 14,1927".` serialN0."i'vz5,2o1.r

The object of my invention is to provide a signal device of simple, durable and comparatively .inexpensive construction. A further object of my invention is to provide a convenient and easily operated signal device which can beattaohed to the side of a building or the like andwhichhas a signal flag thereon adapted to be `positioned against the side of the building in non-'signaling position or to be swung to position at right angles to the building in a signaling position. v

Still afurther object is to provide a base for the signal device to which' the signal flag is pivoted, there being means on the base for engaging the `flag to hold it in the non-signaling position. 1

Still a urther'object is, to provide means for locking the signal flag in signaling position. r V f Still a further Objectis to so'designthe locking device ythat it vwould kbe .operated automatically when' the signal'tlag is moved from non-signaling to signaling'position.

Still a. further object Lis to, 'provideqan indicating needle on thek signal flag.v

Still a furtherfobject is to provide clips`r on the signal flag whereby a` signal card'or the like can be positioned thereon. With these and other/objects in view, my `invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination ,of the various' parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplatedare attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my; claims y and illustrated in the accompanying rdrawings, in which: l

Figure 1 is a perspective view'of myim proved signal device. y Figure v2 is aside elevation of the same showing the base thereof attached to awall or the like and the signal Hag in signaling` position. f n Figure?) is a front elevation et kthe device. illustrating the sign'alsliag in non-signaling position. Figure 11 is a side' elevationfof the'de'vice illustrating the signal flag being movedfrom non-signaling to signaling position-whereby it engages the locking device'r andswings it upwardly; and j 1 Figure 5 is a front elevation of thedevice showing the signal fiag being moved from n non-signaling to signaling position, and in so doing, operating the meansfor maintainingthe signal flag in non-signaling position.

Onv the vaccompanying drawing I have illustrated a device of they character ,des`

scribed as used for signaling an ice man and indicating tohim the quantity ofice desired. It isfof course to be understoodftli'at any other data can be printed `on the signal flag whereby kthe signal can be used for other purposes. y 1

In the yconstruction of my device I provide a base plate 10 having out-turned flanges 12 andlt. y A pivot rod 16 extends `through the flanges 12 and 14 and has mounted there* on a signal fiag 18.` The signal liag 18 hasa pair of reinforcing .flanges 2O and another. pair of flanges 24 provided with openings 26 through which lthe pivot bolt 16 extends whereby the `lag-18`is pivotally mounted relative to the baseplate 10. It will be noted thatthe flanges 241! have openings 26 at each end whereby the signal Hag 18 canhave either end pivoted on the bolt .16, depending on whether the flag is to be swung to the left `or right when innen-signaling position.

The base plate 10 may besecured to a wall 28jby screws 30 vor someequivalent means.y Innen-signaling position thesigv nal Hag r18 is'swung to position adjacent/the wall 28 as clearly illustrated in `Figure 3 of the drawings. In thisposition the indr eating numerals 32y on the face ofthe signal 'Hag 18'are hidden and an advertisement 34 or the like" can bejeX'posed if desired. y

For maintaining 4.the signal flag 18 in the position.illustratedy in Figure 3 I provide the Harige4 12 with Lip-turnedy corners 36 which yengage thelower outer corner of vthe flag as clearlyjillustrated.v When the Asignal Hag l1 8 ismoved Afrom the non-signaling vposition to the signaling position the corner 86 is sprungdownwardly asillustr'ated in Figure 5` of thek drawings.

vIt is desirable .in a device of this character to provide a locking means for the flag 18 whenit'is in signaling position. )For this ypiirposeI provide a wirey38 pvotedby eyes lO'to an 11p-turned portion 42 of thefiange l 14. The: outer end of the wireis looped as at 4-1 for' engaging the'upperaange 24 of the i signal liag'18 wlienthe flag is in signaling position. l y

`It will'be noted that a portion of the Wire 38 is bowed downwardly as at 46. The pur- .upper liange 2l has passed beneath the poi-- tion 4G of the wire, the wire will move downwardly due to gravity until the iiag ll8`is at right angles to the wall-2S in which position die loop 4l will engage the upper iiange li`rom `the construction of the parts `just described it ivillbe obvious that the locking wire 38 will be automatically,operated as the tiag 18 is swung in the direction ot the arrow 50. ylVhen it is desired to movel the flag to non-signaling position the loop ist is manu-l ally raised for releasing the locking wire 3S.

To prevent the locking wire 38 tioingtalling too t'ai downwardly when the dag 1S iii non-signaling position the ends of the wire are bent toiengage the portion d2 ot the iangc lfl as clearly illustrated in Figure i3 oiE the drawing. i

On the flag 18 I mount an indicating needlelwhich can be swung to either oit the indicating numerals 32 itor indicating for instance how many pounds ot ice are desired. I also providepivoted spring clips twhieh can be swung to the dottedline position 58 if a card containing other data is desired to be placed on the signal flag 18. The clips 5G will engage *l posit-ion on the flag. s

F rom the foregoing description lit will be obvious that I have' provided a signal. device having a signal flag which is maintained in a nonsignaling position without danger of being accidentally blown jor otherwise lmoved to a signalingposition. When it is desired lto move the signal flag to'signaling position it is merely necessary to swing it on 'its pivotal connection with the base plate lO which automatically unlocks the signal flag from.

non-signaling position and operates the lock for holding the flag in signaling position.

lIt may here be mentioned that' the signal flag 18 can ,be moved to another signaling position. Such position `is illust-rated in dotted llines in Figure l ot tliediawing. In such position the signal tlag is parallel to the wall S28 and maintained thereby the cornerl of the flange l2. The flag may be moved to either of the positions mentioned depending on which `best presents the flag to the view of `the person being signaled.

1i. it is desired to show theindicating numerals 32 in an opposite direction the signal' flag 18 can be changed end for end whereby it is' pivotedto` swing invan opposite direction before hidingtlie indicating numerals.

`Some changes may be made-in the construction and arrangement of. the parts ot Vmy device without departing from the Areal spi-rit and purpose et my inventionand it is my intention to cover by my claims, my

this caidhand `liold` it in modified foi-ins of structure or use of Inechanical equivalents, which may be ,reasonw bly included within their` scope. i

I claim as my invention:

`1. A'signal device of the class described comprisinga base adapted to be secured to a support, a signal flag pivoted theretoand adapted to assume an inoperative position aga-instsaid support, locking means normally constrained toward'locking position whereby it israisedbythe `signal flag upon pivotal movement thereof, said lockingvmeansli coaet ing with the signal flag Lwhen .in locking positionfor` maintaining the said flag` in a position at right angles tosaid support.

f2. A` signal device of theelass described comprising a base adapted to be securedto a support, a signal flag pivoted theretoA and adapted to ,assume an inoperative position against saidfsupport, ,means for normally.

maintaining thersignal flag in such position,

said means comprising a resilient projection Von said base adapted to .engage said signal flag, locking means operated by pivotal movement ot' the signal flag andV coacting there with for maintaining thesignal ilagin a position at right'angles to said support.v

3. A signal device of the class described comprising a base adapted tobe securedto a support, a signal Hag' pivoted thereto `and adapted to assume an inoperative position against said support, locking means o erated by pivotal movement of the signah ,ag and coacting therewith for maintaining the signal Hag in a position at right anglesto said support, saidk Vlocking means comprising a wire pivoted to said base and havingalooped outer end, the portion of tlie'wire between the pivotal' connect-ion and the looped end being bowed downwardly for being engaged by said signal hagas it is given pivotal movement.

4. A signal device of the character described comprising a base plate Ahaving flanges at each end, a signal ,flag pivoted between said llanges, one of said angeshaving upturned corners adapted to engage the signal flag for holding it inffnonsignaling position. I

5. A signal device of the character dcscr-ibed comprising a base plate having flanges at each end, asignal itlag pivoted between said lianges, one ot' said flanges having uptiirned corners adapted to engage the signal flag for holding it in noir-signaling position, and a locking means for' saidsignal flag comprisinga wire pivotedSto one of said flanges, extending outwardly therefrom Aand terminating in a looped portion adapted to engage said signal flag and hold it insignaling position, the portion of said Wire-.between the pivotal connection thereof to the flange Vand said loop being bowed downwardly whereby itis engaged ,by said signal Hag, as it is being moved from non-signaling to flanges at each end,V a signal flag pivoted between said flanges, anda looking means for' said signal flag eoinpiisinga wire pivoted to one of said langes, extending outwardly' therefrom and terminating `in a looped p01'- iO tion adapted to engagesaid signal flag and hold it insignaling position, the portion of said wire between the pivotal connection thereof` to the flange and saidloop being bowed downwardly whereby itis engaged by said signal Hag as it; is being inoved from non-signaling to signaling position for autolnat-ieally operating said looking means.

Des Moines,`lowa, Feb. 26,1927. ,n

z EARL" WATTS. y 

